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p 13, 1932- w. H. CROSSLNAD WING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Filed Aug. 13,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./

' INVENTOR. MLLIAM H. CRossL4/v0 ATTORNEY.

Sept. 13, 1932. w; o55 A 1,876,620

WING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Filed Aug. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W J. J 1II- 1 iii 7 1:. a VIII/ 20121771! INVENTOR. W/L LIAM H. CROSSLANDATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 13, i 1932 WILLIAM H. CROSSLAND, OI BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIAWING HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Application filed August 13, 1930. Serial-No. 475,028. -s

This invention relates to flying machines and has for its general objectthe production of a new and improved device for the prevention of theformation of ice on the plane and especially the wings thereof.

More particularly stated one of the objects of this invention is toutilize the exhaust gases of thepower plant of the flying machine todirectly heat the wings of the m flying machine whereby the formation ofice on the wings is prevented or at least reduced to a minimum. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby theexhaust gases of the flying machine power plant which have valve andthermostatic controlling means shown in'Figure 7.

been brought in direct contact with the wing members for heating thesame can be released from the members after a certain pre'determinedtemperature has been reached.

Another object of this invention is to provide wings for afiying machinewith mov- 4 able members associated with automatic thermostatic controlswhereby the exhaust gases which have been brought in direct cont-actwith the wing members for heating the same will be automaticallyreleased with rising temperatures.

- Another object of this invention is to provide means for automaticallycontrolling the tem erature in the wings of a plane which are. eingheated by gases for the purpose of preventing the formation of icethereon. These as well as other objects of my invention and theadvantages which arise therefrom will become more apparent from thefollowing description and the drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a to view of the wing and such bodyportions 0 a flying machine .as are necessary for a complete disclosureof this invention. The wing is shown partly broken away to more clearlydisclose the internal structure of certain members. Figure;;2 is a frontview of Figural. Figure 3 an enlarged section takenalong the line 33 ofFigure 1. The raised or open position of the wing is shown by dottedlines.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3,the raised or open position of the'wing being shown by dotted lines. I Ia Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view showing a modified arrangement ofthe lifting thermostats.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, theraised position of the upper wing member being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a top view of a modification, portions of the top wing areshown broken away for the purpose of more clearly disclosing theinternal structure of the valve and thermostatic control memberstherefor.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top View of thec. Figure 9 -is an enlargedpartial'section taken along the line 99 of Figure 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawingsiwherein similar referencenumerals denote similar parts reference numeral 1 denotes a flyingmachine of well known construction provided with the conventionalfuselage 2 and a wing 3. The fuselage 2 has mounted therein theconventional well known gasoline engine power plant 4. The power plant 4has the well known exhaust openings 5.

Attached to the exhausts 5 are lead lines 6 which are carried upward intwo branches as the upright struts 7 running from the body 2 to the wing3. The pipes 6 enter the heating element to heat the surfaces of thewing is new in the art. By the use of the I exhaust gases as the directheating element 9 instead of the indirect heating element, as when thegases are passed through coils in the wings and the heating of the wingis accomplished by radiation from the'coils and convection currents, agreater heating v eficiency results and the wing surfaces are kept hotand therefore free from ice.

The wing 3 is composed of an upper portion 10 and a lower portion 11hinged at 12 as shown. The lower portion 11 has fixed therein aplurality of studs 13. Mounted on each of the studs 13 and between theup- .haust outlets 5 are provided with valves 42 which open or close theexhausts to the atmosphere and the valves 43 which open or close theexhausts to the wings.

Although the method of operation is believed to be obvious from theforegoing disclosure, yet for the purpose of obviating any possibleambiguity the following detailed description is here given.

The plane is flown in the usual manner. For ordinary flying the valves42 and 43 are so set that exhaust gases are free to pass to theatmosphere and prevented from passmg up the tubes 6 in the wing 3. Whenit is desired to protect the wings against the formation of ice thevalves 42 and 43 are so set that the exhaust gases are free to pass upthe tubes 6 but prevented from passing out in the atmosphere. The gasespass up the pipes 6 through the zigzag tubes 8 and escape into the wingproper through the openings 9 provided in the zigzag member 8.

The zigzag arrangement of the tubes 8 makes it possible to utilize tothe maximum the heat which is radiated from the tubes 8 and to properlydistribute the-exhaust gases throughout the wing. The real factor-forheating the wings, however, is the exhaust gas itself which is presentin the wing proper. It is the heat exchange which takes place betweenthe exhaust gases and the wing surface of the plane which prevents theformatirm of ice thereon. When the temperature in the wing body reachesa certain predetermined point the thermostats 14 expand and exert aforce which tends to lift the upper wing member 10, thus forming anopening 19 (see Figure 3) through which the gases may exhaust. As can beseen. from Figures 3 and 4, wherein the expanded or open position of theupper wing member is shown by dotted lines, the thermostatic platesexpand against the pressure of the spring 15. The thermostatic plates 14here shown are of the ordinary well known ether filled type now used inincubators and may be any other type desired.

The structure hereinabove outlined enables me to get the heat desiredfor the wing members by use of the exhaust power plant gases as a directheating element and provides automatic means for controlling thetemperature permitting the escape of the exhaust gases from the wingwhenever the temperature in the wing gets too high. When the temperaturefalls below a certain point the thermostatic plates contract and thewing 10 goes back to the closed position shown by the full lines inFigures 3 and 4. The springs 15 act as an aid in, overcoming anytendency of the wing member 10 to sticking in the raised position andfurther serve to keep the wing in the closed position. v The number ofthermostats required depends on the size of the wing of the plane, onthe type and size of the thermostats used, the type of hinge used in thewing of the plane, the minimum temperature at which it is desired thatthe wing'open and permit the exhaust gases to escape and the force ofthe springs 15. However knowing the size of the plane and the type ofthermostatic plate to be used it is within the skill of an" r airplanedesigner to determine the number of thermostatic plates necessary forany particular plane of type or type of plane. For the factorsdetermining the'number of the plates of any type are all matters whichare directly dependent on the resistive forces of friction in the member10, the moment of force of the wing section 10 acting around its pivotpoint as a fulcrum, and the resistive force of the springs 15. All ofthese are of thermostat. It is not to be taken as a limitation of theapplication of the disclosure herein. v

Instead of using an arrangement of thermostats of the type shown inFigures 1 to 4 inclusive that used in Figures 5 and 6 may besubstituted; In this modification the structure of-the wing member '3,the tubes 6 and 8 is exactly similar to that disclosed in Figures 1 to 4and for that reasoii will not be here described. This structure differsfrom that shown in Figures 1 to 4 in the arrangement of the thermostaticplates 14.

In this modification the thermostatic plates 14 are provided at theirlower ends with rods 44 which extend downward through holes provided inthe lower member 11 of the wing 3 and are held against displacement bybolts 18 and the cotter pins 21. Attached'to the bearing plate 45.

bearing cap 17 held in upper surfaces of the thermostatic plates 14 bywelding or in ar iy manner desired is the he wing member 3 carries abolt 13 similar in every detail to the bolt 13 shown in Figures 1 to 4.The bolt 13 extendsthrough suitable apertures formed in the pressureplate 45 and the upper wing member 10. The bolt 13 has mounted thereonthe spring 15 held in place between the lower or wing bearing-cap 16 andthe upper or stud lace by the bolt 18 and the cotter pin 21. T isstructure is similar to the bolt and associated spring structureoutlined in Figures 1 to 4. It is seen that a lifting unit consists oftwo spaced apart thermostatic plates acting through a bearing platewhich joins them together. The space etween the plates in a unit is afew inches. As many units may be used as necessary.

It is obvious from the above disclosure that this modification functionsin a manner ex- .actly similar to that of the devices shown in Figures 1to 4, the only-difference being that the lifting power is furnished by aplurality of units of thermostatic plates each unit consisting of twospaced apart plates acting through a bearing plate. The raised positionof this modification is shown by the dotted lines of Figure 3. Thenormal or closed position is shown by the full lines.

If it is desired to avoid a structure wherein the wing 3 is composed oftwo members hinged together a modification of the type shown in Figures7 to 9 may be used.

In this modification the plane 1 has the usual body member or fuselage 2and a power plant 4. It has a wing 26 of the type now in general usehaving an upper wing member 22 and a lower wing member 23. Pipes 8having apertures 9 are carried within the wing as shown and areconnected to the power lant 4 by means of pipes 6 in the manner shown inFigures 1 to 4. Exhaust gases from the power plant enter the wings 26through the apertures 9 in the pipes 8. The exhaust gases may beconnected to the wing or to the atmosphere as desired by means of thevalves, valves similar to 43 and 42 of Figure'4 respectively andsimilarly placed.

The tail end of the wing is provided with a plurality of valves 34. Eachof the valves 34 is controlled by a thermostatically controlled valverod 33. The valve rod 33 is ournalled at 28 in a strut plate carried bythe struts 24 and at 46 in the plate 27 carried by the struts 24. Theboss 46 of the plate 27 has formed therein a guide slot 48 in which thepin 47 ear ried by the rod 33 may move vertically. The rod 33 hasfastened thereto the yoke 32 which bears against the thermostatic plates14 carried by the plate 27. The thermostatic plates 14 have rods 38attached to. theirinner ends. The rods extend through suitable aperturesinthe plate 27. They are held againstv displacement by means of thespring arms 39 manner as carried by the rod.33. The spring arms 39terminate in loops 41 which are received in grooves 41 cut in'the rods38. (If desired the rods 38 may be replaced by studs similar to 44 inFigure 6 and held against'displacement by nuts 18 and cotter pin 21 asshown in Figure 6.) The rod 33 carries at its lower end a valve closingmember 35 which normally rests against the valve seat 37. The member 35is threadably mounted for movement an adj ustment on the rod 33 which isthreaded at its lower end for position by the nuts 36 and 49. A spring31 is carried on the rod 33 between-a lower pressure plate 30 whichbears against the nut 36 and an upper presure plate 29 which bearsagainst the plate 27 i The operation of this modification is alsobelieved to be obvious but for the purpose of obviating any possiblemisunderstanding the description of the disclosures of Figures 1 to 4inclusive, the valve 43 being closed and the valve 42 being open wherebythe gases exhaust to the atmosphere. If it is desired to heat the wingsthe valve 42 is closed and the valve 43 opened. The exhaust gases nowpass up into thewings through pipes 6 and escape into the wing structurethrough the apertures 9 in the pipes 8. The exhaust gases come incontact with the wing surfaces and heat the same. When the temperaturereaches a predetermined point the heat in the wing causes the plates 14to expand and exert a lifting pressure against the yoke 32. This iscommunicated to the rod 33 to which the yoke 32' is firmly attached. Therod is raised against the pressure of the spring 31 thus opening thevalve 34. The dotted position of the members 32, 14 and 35 in Figure 9show the valve in the raised position. The closed position is also shownin the same figure by full lines. The closed position of member 32,however, is not. shown in this figure since to do so would tend toconfuse the disclosure. It is seen that in the disclosure of Figures 7to 9 a plurality of thermostatic plate units are used each unitconsisting of two plates as shown. The number and size of units desireddepend on the size of plane, the temperature at which it is desired toopen the valves, the type of thermostatic plate used, the pressure ofthe spring 31 and such elements of friction as need be considered. Thiscan easily be determined mathematically or determined experimentallyonce the other factors involved have been determined. The pressure ofthe spring 31 may be adjusted by manipulating'the nuts 36 and 49 and theclosing member 35.

The above disclosure is by the way of illustration only and not by theway of limitation this .purpose. It is held in outlined in connectionwith the v ture herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

For instance the type and size of thermo-,

static expansion plate may be varied Or the manner of attaching thethermostatic plates to the wings may be varied: Or the number ofthermostatic plates used at any one bolt or point may be varied: Or themanner of making the hinged wing may be varied: Or the type of valveused in the disclosures of Figures 7 to 9 may be varied: Or thematerials of the component parts may be varied: Or instead of heatingthe wings of a heavier than air flying machine the same principle can beapplied for the purpose of heating a lighter than air machine of thedirigible type Or instead of having a gasoline engine power plant now incommon use a coal steam power plant or any other type of power planthaving exhaust gases or developing hot gases may be used: Or instead ofusing valves of the type shown for controlling the path of the exhaustgases either to the atmosphere or wing compartment any other type ofvalves may be used: Or the location of the said valves 42 and 43 may bechanged. These as well as other changes are all contemplated by me aswithin the scope of my invent on. For this reason it is my desire thatthe claims which are hereto appended for the purpose of defining myinvention be limited only by the prior art.

Definition: The term waste gases, as used in the specificat on andclaims is defined as the gases which are given ofl either as an exhaustfrom gasoline, coal steam or any other power plant in which there areexhaust gases or any other type of hot gases developed in any type ofpower plant that may be used in airplanes whether of the heavier thanair ty e or the dirigible type.

I Iaving described my invention what I claim as new and useful is: y

1. Means for heating a surface of a flying machine and preventing theformation of ice thereon consisting of the combination of a cell formedby the surface to be heated as one of the bounding members, means forsupplying waste gases from the flying machine power plant directly tothe said cell and means actuated by fluid'actuated'expansion plates forpermitting the escape of the said waste gases from the said cell afterthe temperature within the cell reaches a predetermined point.

. 2. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of acompartment formed by the bounding surfaces of the said wing, means forsupplying waste gases from the said flying machine power plant to thesaid wing compartment, andmeans actuated by fluid actuated expansionplates for permitting the escape .of the waste gases from the said wingcomof its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plant andterminating at its other end within the wing compartment in a pluralityof zigzag members, the said zig zag members having a plurality ofopenings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe mayescape into the said wing compartment, means carried by the said pipefor controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in the directionof the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and temperaturecontrolled means for permitting the escape of the said waste gases fromthe wing compartment after a predetermined temperature has been reached.

4. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wingconsisting of upper and lower wing members hiriged together, the saidWing members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, a pipehaving one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said powerplant and terminating at its other end within the said wing compartmentin a zigzag member, the said zigzag member having a plurality ofopenings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe mayescape into thesaid wing compartment,

means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow of the saidwaste gases either in the direction of the said wing compartment ortowards the atmosphere, and temperature controlled means carriedintermediate the said upperand lower wing members for raising the saidwing members rel- ;atively to each other whereby an opening is formedbetween at least one of the edges of the saidwing members for permittingthe escape of the waste gases after a predetermined temperature has beenreached in the wing compartment.

5. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wingconsisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the saidwing 'members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, apipe having one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the saidpower plant and terminating at its other end within the said wingcompartment in a. zigzag member, the-said zigzag member having aplurality of openings formed therein through which the waste gases inthe pipe may escape intoithe said win compartment, means carried by thesaid pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gaseseither in thedirection of thesaid wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, and afluid actuated expansion plate carried in per and lower wing members forraising the said wing members relatively to each other whereby anopening is formed between at least one of the edges of the said Wingmembers for permitting the escape of the waste gases after apredetermined temperature has been reached in the wing compartment.

6. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of a wingconsisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together, the saidwing members bounding and forming a compartment in the said wing, a pipehaving one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said powerplant and terminating at its other end within the said wing compartmentin a zigzag member, the said zigzag member having a plurality ofopenings formed therein through which the waste gases in the pipe mayesc ape into the said wing compartment,

means carried by the saidpipe for'controlling the flow of the said wastegases either in the direction of the said wing compartment or towardsthe atmosphere, and fluid actuated expansion plates carried byone ofsaid wingmembers and adapted to contact with the other wing member andforce the said second D of a heavier than air flying machme, having wingmember away from the said first wing member whereby an opening is formedbetween the said wing members for permitting the escape of the saidwaste gases after a predetermined pressure has been reached.

- 7. Means for heating the wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of acompartment formed by the bounding surfaces of thesaid wing, a pipehaving one 0 its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said powerplant and terminating at its other end wtihin the wing compartment inaplurality of zigzag members, the said zigzag members having. a pluralityof openings formed therein through which the waste gases in the. pipemay escape into the said wing compartment, and means actuatedby fluidactuated expansion plates for permit-.

ting the escape of waste'gases from the said wing compartment after thetemperature 'within the said compartment reaches a prepower plant,consisting of the combination.

of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing members hinged together,the said wing members bounding and forming a compartment in said wing,means for, supplying waste gases from the flying machine power plantdirectly to the said wing compartment, and temperasaid "compartmentintermediate the said upcompartment after the temperature has,

reached a predetermined point.

a heavier than air flying machine, having a power plant, consisting ofthecombination of a wing consisting of upper and lower wing membershinged together, the said wing members bounding and forming acompartment in said wing, a plurality of pipes having one of theirrespective terminals connected to the exhaust of the said power plantand terminating at the other of their respective ends within the saidwing compartment in a plurality of zigzag members, each of the saidzigzag members having a plurality of openings formed therein throughwhich the waste gases in the pipe may escape into the said wingcompartment, means carried by the said pipe for controlling the flow ofthe said waste gases either in the direction of the said wingcompartment or towards the atmosphere, and fluid actuated expansionplates carried by one. of said wing members and adapted to contact withthe other wing member and force the said second wing member away fromthe said first wing member whereby an opening is formed between the saidwing members for 9. Means for, heating the wing surfaces of minating atthe other oftheir respective f ends within the said wing compartment ina plurality of zigzag members, each of the said zigzag members having aplurallty of openings formed therein through which the Waste gases inthe pipe may escape into the said wing compartment, means carried by thesaid pipe for controlling the flow of the said waste gases either in thedirectionof the said wing compartment or towards the atmosphere, andtemperature controlled means for moving one of the said wing membersrelatively to the other wing member whereby an opening is formed in saidwing compartment for permitting the escape of the waste gases fromthesaid wing compartment when a predetermined temperature is I reached,the said means consisting of a plu- "i'ality of pairs of fluid actuatedexpansion plates carried by the lower wing member, a .pressure'platecarried-by each of the said pairs of expansion-plates and adapted tothrust against the inner surfacev of theupper wing member, a guide boltcarried. by the.

said lower Wing member for each pair of said expansion plates andextending through the said pressure plate and the said upper wingmember, a wing contacting cap mounted upon each said bolt, a springmounted upon each said bolt and adapted to bear against the wingcontacting cap, a nut contacting cap mounted on the said bolt andcontacting with the upper surface of the said spring, and a nut holdingthe assembly of the spring and caps in place.

11. Means for heating the Wing surfaces of a heavier than air flyingmachine, having a power plant, consisting of the combination of acompartment formed by the bounding surfaces of the said wing, a pipehaving one of its terminals connected to the exhaust of the said powerplant and the other of its terminals terminating within the said wingcompartment in a plurality of zigzag folds, the said zigzag membershaving a plurality of apertures formed therein through which the wastegases in the said pipe may escape into the said Wing compartment, andtemperature controlled means for permitting the escape of the said Wastegases from the said wing compartment after a perdetermined pressure hasbeen reached, the said means consisting of a plurality of valve openingsformed in the said wing member, a movable valve rod for each valveopening, a valve closure means adjustably carried by the said valve rod,a yoke carried by the said rod, a pair of fluid actuated expansionplates mounted in said Wing-{member for exerting a pressure against eachsaid yoke member, resilient means carried by each said rod intermediatethe said expansion plates and the said valve seat for opposing theforceexerted by the said expansion plates and normally pressing thevalve closure means against the valve seat, and means for adjusting thepressure initially exerted by the said resilient means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. OROSSLAND.

